News Item

Bootle Linacre Ward residents invited to apply for ‘green’ grants

Bootle residents are being invited to apply for the latest batch of ‘green’ grants to fund projects that tackle grotspots and improve the appearance of the town’s Linacre electoral ward.

The Environmental Improvements Fund offers grants of between £250 and £1,000 to new projects developed by local people.

The grants are supported by the Linacre Ward elected members, with funding coming from Sefton Council.  The scheme is managed by Bootle-based social enterprise Regenerus.

Any group of Linacre Ward residents can apply to the fund, whether they are part of a community organisation working with volunteers, or just an informal group of friends and neighbours who want to work together on a local environmental project.

Organisers say that typical applications might come from groups wishing to hire skips for a community clean-up, or residents looking to create a new community garden on local wasteland.

Successful applications from previous rounds have included a project to improve one of the key gateways into Bootle, and a scheme to improve a local neighbourhood centre with new planters and hanging baskets.

Elsewhere in the town funding created a community ‘pick your own’ fruit, vegetables and herbs project in a local park, and helped people in recovery to clear overgrown plots of land while learning horticultural skills.

Ruth Livesey of Regenerus commented:

“We’re hoping for a very good response to the latest round of funding which comes at a great time to prepare for this year’s growing season.

“We’re looking forward to receiving some high-quality applications that will make a significant improvement to the Linacre Ward environment.

“At the same time, as previous rounds have shown, projects supported by the fund achieve the additional benefits of creating new friendships, promoting volunteering and getting residents more involved in looking after their neighbourhoods, especially young people.”

Fund guidelines and application forms can be downloaded from the Regenerus website. The deadline for applications is 31st March.